Could use some advice - explaining death to a 2 year old (long, sorry)

i could use some help...

a week and a half ago one of our dogs died. it was sudden and unexpected, and needless to say dh and i are absolutely devastated, but we didn't cry in front of or mention it to our 2 year old.

he didn't say a word about it, didn't even seem to realize it, until a week later (this past sunday). while walking our other dog DS asked where sophie was. DH explained that she wasn't coming home... not sure exactly what he said, i think he kind of stumbled over it...

well, 2 days ago DS spontaneously walked into our home office, took the picture of sophie off the desk, and put it on his nighttable.

when we asked him about it, he insisted that it was not sophie, but was our OTHER (living) dog.

last night he SLEPT with the picture and at one point was crying and said "i want sophie".

then this morning i found him talking to the picture, but again calling the dog our other dog's name.

mind you, he didn't have much interaction with sophie... but she has obviously been around for his whole life.

i just don't know how to address this

Re: Could use some advice - explaining death to a 2 year old (long, sorry)

How incredibly sad that you're going through this.

At 2, they don't have much of a grasp of abstract thinking, so just telling him that Sophie's body stopped working and she had to go to heaven/died should suffice. He'll probably continue to ask over time because toddlers also don't understand the finality of death, so just repeat that Sophie died and he won't see her anymore. In the meantime, just comfort him when he's sad.

It sounds like you're doing the best you can though.

Re: Could use some advice - explaining death to a 2 year old (long, sorry)

First I'm soo sorry about your dog.

I don't have any experience with this but would imagine that since he's not going to truly understand death, maybe just say that sophie went to heaven. If he asks why which I think is "the" question at that age, then I'm stumped. I don't know if you should say she was sick because then he might get scared when he gets sick or worse, when you or DH are sick. Ugh, I'm no help but I am so sorry for your loss.